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Former Wales international Jonathan Thomas, who has been defence coach all season, will take over as forwards coach for the remainder of the season.

Academy forwards coach Mark Irish becomes interim first team scrum coach, while head coach Pat Lam will oversee the defence.

Lam said: “I’m really excited by the potential of both Jon [Thomas] and Mark [Irish], I believe that they will be world class coaches,” said Lam.

“Jon has plenty of experience with the set piece, especially in the lineout from his playing roles in the international set-up, so we’re looking forward to seeing the impact he will have with the forwards.

Former Ospreys and Worcester forward Thomas, 35, joined Bristol Rugby as defence coach under former head coach Andy Robinson ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.

As a player he is a double Grand Slam winner with Wales, who he played for 67 times between 2003 and 2011. He also captained Worcester to Championship play-off glory over two legs against Bristol in 2015.

But he was forced to retire early after multiple head traumas.

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The former Bristol prop Irish joined the current Championship leaders as the academy forwards coach in 2015/16, moving from Hartpury College where he coached the AASE league winning Under 18s side, as well as working with the National One senior team.

Irish made 146 first team appearances in an eight-year tenure with Bristol Rugby as a player.

Lam said: “Mark has done fantastic work with the Academy, so it makes perfect sense for him to come through and lead our scrummaging.

"The important thing in our vision is that there is a pathway for coaches and staff, not just players.